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Community Corner

Fifth Annual 50|50 Show

Pacifica
– Organized pandemonium. Structured chaos. A peaceful riot of color. The halls
and walls of Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica will once again be the scene for
all these sensations and more when the Fifth Annual 50|50 Show opens on Friday,
August 23, with a fundraising preview at 6:00 p.m. and a public opening at 7:30
p.m. at 1220 Linda Mar Boulevard.  The
artists for this show were selected by juror Lonnie Lee, the founder and
curator of Vessel Gallery in Oakland. Vessel Gallery is at the nexus of
Oakland’s burgeoning downtown art scene, where it has, since its opening there
in 2010, played a pivotal role in the popularity and success of the Oakland Art
Murmur phenomenon.



 



Of
the 69 artists showing this year, the great majority have not participated in a
50|50 previously.  In fact, less than 40
percent of the artists who entered the competition were selected to participate.  By the time the show opens, those 69 artists
will have negotiated a demanding creative process that challenged them to
translate and perhaps even reduce their artistic vision to one 6 inch by 6 inch
work of art per day for 50 consecutive days. 
The resultant 3,450 pieces of art provide the viewer with an impressive
range of concepts and interpretations including snapshots of California and San
Francisco, artistic meditations on color and texture, abstract interpretations,
and inanimate objects rendered in new visual ways.  Such artistic diversity is equaled only by
its geographic intra-state diversity, with some artists coming from as far as
San Diego and Truckee.

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The
show itself is a hybrid of a gallery sale and an exhibition, however, the
creative process is the star.  This stardom
makes demands on the artists.  Imagine attempting
to create something out of the ordinary every day for fifty days in a row, while
keeping it all somehow connected.  Artist
Jennifer Alpaugh of Pacifica states, “Each year I begin the work I think ,’What
have I gotten myself into?’ It seems unfathomable that I will be able to create
50 unique pieces which are related in theme and material. However, toward the
end of those 50 days, I find that I have many more ideas than the 50 tiles
allotted to me, and I have a hard time stopping.”  Likewise, artist Donna Fenstermaker of
Oakland states, “Series are great for me. They become a form of information and
image mining that answer questions like: ‘Where can that thing I just
discovered or become reacquainted with take me? How many versions are there and
which are more important to me than others?’” 

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.



As
the exhibition’s structure changes from moment to moment, viewers are also
required to adjust their personal lens and viewing expectations. It could be
argued that because purchases are removed at the time of sale, the installation
takes on a dynamic, rather than static personality. Certainly, it is undisputed
that the remaining works can be seen in a less competitive setting that allocates
more space to appreciate a given work. 



 



The
Fifth Annual 50|50 opens on August 23 at Sanchez Art Center with an exclusive fundraising
preview from 6 to 7:30 p.m., giving those with a true passion for art an
opportunity to make purchases on a priority basis.  Preview entry is by ticket only.



 



Artists
receive 70 percent of the sale price of their work.  The remaining 30 percent commission, which is
less than typical for a commercial gallery, goes to finance the year round free
exhibitions presented at Sanchez.  Tickets
can be purchased in advance for $10 (plus a minimal service charge) on-line at
brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006.  Otherwise, tickets are $20 at the door
starting at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the show.



 



The
50|50 Show remains on display through Sunday, September 29, 2013, when its
Grand Closing occurs from 1 to 5 p.m. 
Sanchez Art Center is located at 1220 Linda Mar Boulevard in Pacifica, a
coastal hamlet just south of San Francisco. 
Gallery hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and by
appointment.  There is plenty of free
parking.  More information on the artists
and event is available at sanchezartcenter.org or by calling (650) 355-1894.






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